Police snooper camera fight still alive

Councilwoman wants facial recognition ban

By Matt GalnorTimes-Union staff writer,

City Councilwoman Gwen Chandler-Thompson will, after all, get her chance to try to ban the use of facial recognition technology in Jacksonville.

Chandler-Thompson, a Republican, said she would introduce an ordinance to ban the operation -- thrust into the spotlight when Tampa used it in conjunction with cameras during the Super Bowl in January.

City Assistant General Counsel Virginia Norton initially said a ban would be against state law, but now -- after speaking with Chandler-Thompson about what the councilwoman is looking to accomplish -- says the city can ban the equipment.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has no immediate plans to purchase the equipment, which snaps photos of faces in crowds and compares those images with a database of wanted criminals and runaways.

If the computer finds a match, it sends a signal alerting an officer, who then determines if the match is worth pursuing.

Chandler-Thompson says the technology is an invasion of privacy.

Sheriff Nat Glover said he understands the privacy issue but doesn't want to close the door on any law enforcement tools that would help ensure public safety.

"I want to make sure we do not enact any ordinance or law that would prevent us from using sound law enforcement tactics, strategies and equipment," Glover said.

Glover says he will have to look at the language and intent of the law before taking a firm stand.

"We will definitely have a position that we would be obligated to articulate," Glover said.

Chandler-Thompson said the ordinance would not be dictating the department's policy.

"They don't have a policy, so how could it affect something they don't have?" Chandler-Thompson said. "I am not making a decision on behalf of law enforcement, I'm making a decision on behalf of citizens' privacy rights."

Tampa police have been using the $30,000 technology on weekends in Ybor City, a popular entertainment district, the past two months, said Detective Bill Todd, who is coordinating the project for the Tampa Police Department. The software is on loan for a year from New Jersey-based Visionics Corp. while the department decides if it wants to buy it.

Tampa police have been using cameras in Ybor City since 36 cameras were installed in 1997.

"I think the issue is not necessarily trying to ban it, the issue is trying to develop legislation around it," said Frances Zelazny, director of corporate communications for Visionics Corp., which sells the software.

Chandler-Thompson doesn't know yet how much council support she has on the issue. Councilman Lake Ray has asked to co-sponsor the bill, but several other council members -- including council President Matt Carlucci, Pat Locket-Felder and Mary Ann Southwell -- said they need more time to make a decision.